Net handling method



Dec. 25, 1962 M. J. PURETlC 3,069,798

NET HANDLING METHOD Original Filed April 9, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mme/a El lawn/a.

INVENTOR.

Dec. 25, 1962 M. J. PURETIC NET HANDLING METHOD 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 9, 1957 INV ENT OR.

BY F04 w/aeip Harry/val: y

4" Hun/fLE/ lwmuggs Dec. 25, 1962 M. J. PURETIC 3,069,798

NET HANDLING METHOD Original Filed April 9, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 if I 2% b an ML EZP 24 MAQ/O Cl pMQEr/c;

INVENTOR.

Abram/s gs United States Patent 3,069,798 NET HANDLING METHGD Mario 3. lluretic, San Pedro, Calif. Malcolm Lucas, 190 Long lieach Blvd, Long Beach 2, Uaiif.)

Original application Apr. 9, 1957, Ser. No. 651,664.

Divided and this application Mar. '7, 1961, Ser. No.

8 Claims. (Cl. 43-45) This is a division of my application Serial No. 651,664 filed April 9, 1957, now abandoned.

The present invention relates generally to the field of commercial fishing equipment, and more particularly to the retrieving of nets and long lines from the sea onto a fishing boat.

A major object of the present invention is to provide a novel method of utilizing a power operated device in retrieving nets and long lines from the sea which is equally well adapted for open boats as well as those vessels having a superstructure and/ or a boom forming a part thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a method of the aforedescribed nature wherein the power operated device need not be oriented relative to the direction in which the net or long line is being drawn.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method of the aforedescribed nature that automatically centers the portion of a net engaged by the power operated device and exerts an even pull on all sections thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a method of the aforedescribed nature wherein the power operated net retrieving device can be compact, light in weig t, and driven by either an electric motor, hydraulic motor, air motor, gasoline auxiliary engine, V-belt, wedgeand-friction rope drive, or sprocket chain drive.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a method of the aforedescribed nature that is adapted to permit hauling in a net having a cork line forming a part thereof that may be disposed forwardly, sidewardly and rearwardly of the power operated device, with at least one of the rotatable members of said device serving the dual function of frictionally engaging the net and guiding the net into said engagement.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method of the aforedescrihed nature that permits a net and its cork line to be hauled in with minimum manual labor and in a minimum period of clasped time.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method of the aforedescribed nature that substantially reduces the cost of fishing operations and thereby permits the fish to be sold to the ultimate consumer at less cost than where the net is manually hauled in to the fishing boat.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred form and certain alternate forms thereof, and from the accompanying drawings illustrating same in which:

IGURE 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the stern portion of a boat showing three devices which may be utilized in carrying out a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, which devices are so arranged as to permit engagement thereby of the bottom lines and cork lines of a net;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the boat and devices shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged combined side elevational and vertical cross-sectional view of a net-engaging device usable in carrying out the teachings of the invention, taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view of one of the rotatable net-engaging members taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

313%,798 Patented Dec. 25, 1962 FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of one of the rotatable net-engaging members taken on line 55 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a combined side elevational and vertical cross-sectional view of another device that may be used in carrying out the teaching of the invention;

FIGURE 7 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIGURE 6 taken on line 77 thereof;

FIGURE 8 is a combined side elevational and vertical cross-sectional view of yet another device that may be used in carrying out the teaching of the invention;

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view of another device usable in connection with the teaching of the invention;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view of the device shown in FIGURE 9 on which interchangeable net-engaging members of a different shape are mounted;

FIGURE 11 is a side elevational view of the device shown in FIGURE 9 on which interchangeable net-engaging members of another shape are mounted;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the device shown in FIGURE 9 taken on line 1212 thereof;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a yet another form of device that is usable in connection with the teaching of the invention;

FIGURE 14 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIGURE 13 taken on line 14-44 thereof;

FIGURE 15 is a side elevational view of still another of said devices usable in connection with the teaching of the invention:

FIGURE 16 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIGURE 15 taken on line 16-46 thereof; and

FIGURE 17 is a plan view of one of said devices shown retrieving a net that extends rearwardly and sidewardly therefrom.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that devices usable in carrying out the teachings of the invention are adapted for use in retrieving nets and long lines from the sea, with sections of said nets and lines thereafter being sequentially disposed aboard a vessel and placed in stacked arrangement.

FIGURES 1 and 12 illustrate a method embodying the present invention utilizing the device shown in FIGURE 3 in conjunction with two laterally separated second forms 0 of the device seen in FIGURE 9 when Withdrawing a net from the sea of the type disclosed and claimed in my pending application Serial No. 607,683 entitled Draw Net and Method of Using Same filed September 4, 1956, and now Patent No. 2,925,680, issued February 23, 1960. A draw net K of this type includes a cork line A, which as its name implies, has a number of corks, floats or other buoyant bodies B attached thereto at spaced intervals. An elongate wall or panel of webhing, referred to generally by the letter C, is supported from cork line A. From experience it has been found desirable to form a rearwardly disposed portion known as the hunt 0-1 that is relatively wide in webbing C, from which bunt narrower wings C2; and C3 extend on each side thereof. The lower edge portions E of .net K support a longitudinally extending line H, which is hereinafter referred to as the bottom line. It is to be understood, however, that the term bottom line is synonymous with the terms lead line, ground line, ring line, and other terms used in commercial fishing to denote a line which extends around the bottom edge of the net.

Line H may take a number of forms, and it has been found possible to employ either steel cable, manila rope, or link chain for this purpose. A cable It is provided that is aflixed to substantially the center of the bottom line H, and when the net K is set the cable extends rearwardly and downwardly therefrom as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The outer extremity of cable 10 is looped or otherwise attached to an eye that is rigidly secured to a mushroom-shaped weight 14. The manner in which the above described net is transported to the fishing grounds and set is described in detail in my aforementioned Patent No. 2,925,680 and need not be repeated herein.

When net K is so set, it will be apparent that the weight 14- Will rest on the floor of the sea or sink the length of cable 10, drawing it downwardly from bottom line H. Thereafter the vessel 13 is so moved relative to the Weight 14 (FIGURE 1) that the two portions of the bottom line generally designated H-1 and H-2 are placed under tension and caused to move rapidly inwardly and snap together in substantially parallel relationship to close the bottom of the net whereby the catch is impounded within the net. Bottom line portions H-1 and H2 tend to remain in the closed position as shown due to the drag imposed by the weight 14 as the bottom line H is drawn in a direction away from the weight, as will be explained hereinafter. For clarity of description herein, the free end portions of cork line A are further identified as portions A-1 and A-2.

A second device of the invention is mounted at an elevated position above the central stern portion of vessel 18 and one preferred device M of the invention is dis posed in raised position on each side of the device 0. The free end portions A-1 and A2 of the cork line A are manually placed in frictional contact with each of the preferred forms M of the invention whereby the webbing C-1 and C-2 associated therewith will billow out in the Water over the stern side portions of vessel 18, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. When the two devices M are actuated in a manner to be later explained, the cork line portions A-1 and A-2, together with the webbing wings C-1 and C2 are drawn aboardship. Inasmuch as the two preferred forms of the invention are independently power units, the cork line portions A-3t and A-2 may be drawn aboard at the same or at different rates. After the bot tom lines 1-1-1 and H-2 have been snapped together and the bottom of the net K is closed, these bottom lines are manually placed in frictional contact with the device 0, which when actuated draws the lines and the associated ebbing toward the vessel and at the same time maintains the lines in a taut net closing position. It will be obvious that due to the fact that the three units are independently actuated, it is possible to adjust the speed of each unit in order to control the net and catch contained therein as it is being drawn toward the vessel. By means of the power operated devices M and device 0, net K is drawn aboardship until a relatively small portion thereof remains in the water and the fish impounded therein may then be either brailed or pumped into the vessel 18 in a conventional manner.

Referring now to FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 for a detailed description of the device M, it will be seen to include a base 40 that is defined by an elongate rigid member 42, from the ends of which two L-shaped legs 44 and 44' depend downwardly that are adapted to be secured to a suitable portion of vessel 18 (not shown) by bolts 46 or the like. Two shafts 48 and 48 are provided that are welded or otherwise secured to one another at their lower ends, with the shafts extending upwardly and away from one another to define a V-shaped space therebetween. The lower end portions of shafts 48 and 48 are rigidly attached to a plate so, which by means of bolts or other securing means 52, is rigidly afiixed to the upper surface of member 42,. Two elongate tubular sleeves 54 and 54 are rotatably supported on shafts 48 and 43, and the lower end portions of these sleeves are removably affixed by conventional means to two meshed gears 56 and 56 respectively, as shown in FIGURE 3.

Sleeves 54 and 54- support two rotatable net engaging members referred to generally by the letters P and P respectively, and as they are identical in construction, but. one member will be described in detail herein. Member P includes a solid cylindrical body '38 preferably formed of a resilient material such as rubber or the like, on the exterior surface of which a number of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending ribs 6t? are formed (FIGURES 3 and 4). Ribs 6b which are uniform in transverse cross section originate at the lower portion of body 58 and are so shaped that the upper end portions thereof project or jut farther away from the body than the lower ends thereof. The upper ends of ribs 6t? terminate fiush with the upper surface 62 of body 53.

Circular recesses 64 and 64 are formed in the lower portions of bodies 58 and 58', which recesses rotatabiy engage upwardly extending portions 65 and 56 of a frame 68 that is affixed to plate St The lower surfaces of bodies 58 and 58 are provided with beveled edges 7%} and 79' that are in rotatable abutting contact (FEGURE 3), and these contacting edges together with the opposing sides of members P and P cooperatively define a V-shaped space through which successive sections of the net K can be frictionally drawn.

Two circular plates 72 and 72 are welded or otherwise secured to the outer extremities of sleeves 54 and 54' and in abutment with faces 62 and 62' of members P and P. A sprocket 74 is rigidly afiixed in parallel spaced relationship to the exterior face of plate '72 by bolts 76 or other fastening means. An endless link belt 78 extends from sprocket 74 to a driving sprocket 8%} which is actuated by a prime mover 82 that may be a hydraulic motor or the like, and is supported by conventional means on a bracket 84 projecting upwardly from base 40. Bracket 34 also serves to removably support an elongate shield so having a downwardly extending rim 88 sufficiently Wide to prevent inadvertent personal contact with the chain or belt 78 while it is in motion. Shield 86 is preferably supported from bracket 84 by a bolt 9%} or the like (FIG- URE 3).

Tapped bores 92 and 92 are formed in the outer end portions of shafts 48 and 48'. Bore 92' is engaged by a bolt 94 which extends through an opening 96 in plate 72 to prevent displacement of the net-engaging member P from shaft 48. A bolt 98 or other suitable threaded member is provided that extends inwardly through an opening 100 in shield 86 and an opening 102 in sprocket 74 to engage opening 92 to prevent displacement of mem ber P from shaft 48. If desired, the exposed portions of bolts 94 and 98 may be concealed by covers 5 5 and 95 respectively, that are removably affixed to the central exterior surfaces of plates 72' and 72 by conventional fastening means.

Upon actuation of prime mover 82 the driving sprocket 84} is rotated to drive belt 78 and impart rotary motion to sprocket 74 and the net-engaging member P atfixed thereto. Sleeve 54, of course, rotates concurrently with member P, as does the beveled gear 56. Clockwise rotation of member P causes counterclockwise rotation of member P due to the meshed gears 56 and 56', and as a result portions of a net contacting either or both of the members P and P are moved through the space defined therebetween (FIGURE 3). A portion A-2 of cork line A is shown in engagement with member P in FIGURES 1 and 3.

It will be particularly noted in FIGURES l, 3 and 17 that either of the members P or P, or both, can serve the dual function of frictionally engaging the net as well as guiding it into frictional engagement with one or both of these members, even when the outer portion of the net is sidewardly and rearwardly positioned relative to the members. A modification of the device M is shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 with which a rope or cable drive is provided. This device includes a base ed having an upwardly projecting bracket 84' mounted thereon by bolts or other conventional means 104. In this modified form a sheave 74' replaces sprocket 74. A shield 86' that is substantially identical in structure to shield 86 is removably mounted on an upwardly and angularly disposed leg portion of bracket 84, by bolts or screws 103. Two laterally spaced tubular members 1% and 106' are mounted on the lowermost end portion of shield 86 and have bores 108 and 198' formed therein that are in the same plane.

Two lizard pulley assemblies 110 and 115' are provided that are identical in construction, and accordingl but one assembly will be described in detail herein. Pulley assembly 110, as can best be seen in FIGURE-3S 6 and 7, includes a block 112 in which a slot 114- is formed and across which a shaft 116 transversely extends. A pulley 118 is rotatably mounted in slot 114 on shaft 116. A shank 120 extends outwardly from block 112 and a longitudinally extending bore 122 is formed in this shank that is in alignment with the circumferentially extending groove formed on pulley 118 and the circumferentially extending groove defined in sheave 74'. Shani; must be suliiciently long to permit formation of a flare 12s on the outwardly projecting end thereof after the shank is slidably and rotatably positioned in member 1%. As will be obvious, this flare serves to prevent displacement of shank 1213 from member 186. When pulley assembly Eli? is positioned as abOve described, and a driving cable or rope 126 is caused to engage pulley 118 and pass through bore 122 to sheave 74', the portion of a cable 126 in contact with sheave 74 is at all times held in alignment therewith, irrespective of the position that portion of cable 126 may assume which is extending from assembly 118 unless it is in binding frictional contact therewith. What has been said of pulley assembly 110 is equally descriptive of assembly 110. v

The power means employed in moving cable 126 are not shown, as they may be any one of a variety of conventional devices normally provided on a commercial fishing boat such as a winch head, bell pulley, or the like. Some of the advantages provided by the cable or rope drive device above described are that it is economical in operation, very readily installed, and in most instances permits the use of power equipment already existing on a boat as the prime mover for the invention,

The device 0 (FIGURE 9) includes an elongate, rigid base plate 14%) that has two identical, transversely disposed end supports .42 and 142' of channel-shaped cross section bolted or otherwise secured to the under surface thereof. Two longitudinally separated, vertical shafts 1 14 and 144 are Welded or otherwise atfixed to the upper surface of plate 149 and rotatably support two meshing gears 146 and 14. 6 respectively. These gears are rotatably supported in raised position by a rigid pair of late allv separated parallel strips 143 between which shafts 144 and 144 project upwardly. Downwardly depending end pieces and 151i hold strips 148 in a fixed elevation above plate 141 A housing 152 is provided above base plate 140 that is defined by two vertical end pieces 154 and 154, the bottom edges of which are welded to the upper surface of the base plate. The inner upper portions of end pieces 15 i and 154- support two lugs 156 and 155' respectively, to which an elongate horizontal cover plate 153 is affixed by bolts 1613. Two tubular bosses 162 and 162 project upwardly from plate 153, and shafts 144 and 144' respectively are centrally disposed therein.

A pair of sleeves 164 and 164 are rotatably mounted on shafts 14d and 14% respectively and threaded or otherwise removably secured to upwardly projecting hub portions of gears 146 and 14-6. Sleeves 164 and 16% are rigidly affixed to two rotatable net engaging members 166 and 166' respectively, which are preferably formed of a resilient material such as rubber, or the like. Members 166 and 166 comprise straight-walled cylindrical lower portions 168 and 168' that are in rotary abutting contact, as well as upper portions 1713 and 170" which taper upwardly and inwardly in convex curves to define a generally V-shaped space 172 therebetween. Recesses 174 and 174' are formed in the exterior faces of portions 168 and 168 extending upwardly from the bottom thereof.

Tapped bores 175 and 175' respectively are formed in the upper end portions of shafts 14-4 and 144 and are threadedly engaged by bolts 176 and 176 on which washers 1'78 and 178' are mounted whereby inadvertent displacement of members 166 and 166 from the shafts is prevented, yet permits easy removal of the member therefrom when necessary. A sprocket is rigidly connected to sprocket 146 located within the confines of housing 152. Two identical side pieces 182 that extend between end pieces 154 and 154' serve to complete the housing 152. An endless link belt 184 connects sprocket 131} to a driving sprocket 186 mounted on the lower end of a vertical drive shaft 13:; projecting upwardly through an opening formed in cover plate 158 to a prime mover 1%, such as a hydraulic motor or the like.

The device 0 is preferably provided with a horizontal roller 192 that is rotatably supported between a pair of vertical journal plates 194 and 194' as can best be seen in FIGURE 12, in which elongate slots 1% and 196' respectively are formed. Bolts 198 and 198 project through slots 1% and 196 respectively to engage tapped bores formed in end pieces 154 and 154. When bolts 1% and 193' are tightened after plates 194 and 194' are placed at the desired height relative to members 17% and 1711, the roller 192 may be positioned to regulate the depth at Which a line or net will travel when frictionally engaged by members 166 and 166'. The position of the bottom lines H-1. and 1-1-2 of net K when engaged by members 1711 and 17% is shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 9.

The housing 152 not only provides a convenient sup port for prime mover 190, but of more importance, serves as a shield to protect gears 14:3, 146, sprockets 18-6 and belt 184 from water that drips down from rotatable members 166, 116 as a wet net is being re trieved and travels therebetween.

Although from experience the rotatable net engagin members 17% and 17% have been found to be quite satisfactory in actual use, it has been determined that a modification thereof as illustrated in FIGURE 10 and identified as members 2% and 2414' are particularly well adapted for certain uses. Members and 2124' are identical in shape and the diameter of the lower cylindrical portions 2% and 2% thereof place them in abutting rotary contact in the same manner as the forms described hereinabove. The upper portions 2 38 and 268 of resilient members zee and 2114' are of frusto-conical configuration and define a V-shaped space therebetween wherein a portion of net can be sectionally and frictionally gripped.

FIGURE 11 illustrates still another modification of net-engaging members adapted for use with the form of the invention shown in FIGURE 9 and identified by the numerals 212 and 212', which include two lower cylindrical portions 214 and 214" sufficiently broad in diameter to be in rotary abutting relationship. Members 212 and 212 develop into upwardly and inwardly tapering concave portions 216 and 216'. For greater frictional engagement of the net as it passes through the generally ll-shaped space 218 defined between portions 216 and 216', the upper portions are provided with circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending ribs 224! that are preferably out of phase relative to one another as members 216 and 216' rotate.

Another form of device N usable with the method of the invention is shown in FIGURE 8 and preferably includes a pedestal 230 or other upright support that is secured to the boat deck (not shown), the upper end of which terminates in a horizontal plate to which a base plate 234 is affixed by bolts 23-5 or other conventional means. Plate 234- supports an upwardly extending body 23 8 of generally circular horizontal cross section ensures that has a central depressed portion formed therein from which two ricid shafts 24b proiect upwardly and outwardly in angular relationship. An inwardly extending horizontal re ess is formed in body that serves to house a beveled gea 244 rigidly m rted on d by a the end of a horizontal shaft 2% which is rota c I prime mover such as a hydraulic motor or =ke. Two meshing bevel gears and 255? are rotatably supported on shafts 24th and 24% respectively, and gear engages a driving gear The upper faces of gears 2st? and 259 are in abutting contact with flanges 252 that are formed on the lower ends of tubular sleeves and 254, which in turn are rotatably mounted on shafts 240 and 24% respectively. Two cylindrical net engaging members see and are provided that are rigidly afiixed to sleev,s 254 and 254' as can best be seen in FIGURE 8. The members 254 and 254- have lower tapered end portions 2-58 and 258 that are in rotary abutting contact as indicated by the numeral 2st: in FIGURE 8.

Second flanges 262 and 262 are formed on sleeves 254 and 25d, positioned above flanges 252 and 252, with flanges 252 and 262' being in abutment with the lower faces of net engaging members 256 25c. Identical recesses 263 and 2:53 are formed in the outer end portions of members 256 and 2"6', in which recesses washers 2&4 and 264 are disposed which serve to prevent inadvertent displacement of members 256 and 255 from shafts 240 and 240'. Washers 264 and 264' engage surface portions of members 256 and 256 and are held in position on the shafts by bolts 266 and 266 in engagement with tapped bores 2623 and 268 formed in the upper portion of the shafts. l

The body 238 defines two upwardly proyccting, opposing circular portions 270 and 270 that pro ect into circular grooves2-72 and 272' formed 1n the lower surface portions of members 256 and 256'. When the prime mover 248 is energized, the beveled driving gear 2 34 1S rotated and due to meshing with gear 25%, this latter gear as well as gear 258' are rotated to cause the net engaging members 255 and to rotate in op sits direc; tions. It is to be understood that members 2% and 25h are not limited as to the length shown in FIGURE 8, but may be of any desired length required to establish a V-shaped space therebetween sufficient to permit cmcient handling of a particular cross section of net to be engaged thereby. a va- To permit handling of nets oi riety of size, members see and 256 shown in solid l ne in FEGURE 8 may be replaced by similar net engaging members which are longer and extend to positions shown in phantom line in the same figure. Due to the structure thereof, members 256 and 25d are interchangeable and easily mounted on and removed from the shafts the first form of the invention, whereby members Zoo and 256 of increased or decreased lengths may be mounted on the first alternate form of the invention to handle nets K of various transverse cross section disposed in space Yet another device Q incorporating the s the invention is shown in FIGURES l3 anl 14, which is similar to the device exce at that a le drive 13 employed therewith. in this form of the device a sheave and the lizard pulley assemblies Elli) and Bill prev ously described are mounted on end plate (FZGUYRQ 13) to replace sprocket Slzeave 29d and pu ley assemblies lit? and lit) are engaged by a cable lie in the same manner as shown in fi ure, and by movement of the cable the net engaging members 166 and 166' can be rotated in precisely the same manner as similarly identified members in the second alternate form of the invention (FIGURE 9).

Another device R constructed in accordance with the invention is shown in FIGURES l and 16 and is substantially the same as the device 0 when is stood on end with the end piece 142 occipying the uppermost teaching position. Two horizontal arms and 30% project outwardly from opposite sides of the vertical plate 14% and rotatably support two grooved pulley 302 and Pulley 392 is rotataibly supported on a shaft Edit? ailixed to arm 3%. Pulley S l -i is rigidly atflxed to a horizontal shaft 3% that is rotatably mounted on arm 3%. A driven pulley 3% is rigidly affixed to shaft 368 from which a sit 312 extends to a driving pulley 314 that is mounted on a horizontal shaft 316 to which a gear 31%; is secured that meshes with gear res.

When it is desired to use the device R to retrieve a long line 320 to which a number of spaced leaders 322 are attached that bear books 324, the line is threaded over the idling pulley 3G2 and between members and 166 which frictionally engage same and then passes over the driven pulley Sti l. The driving of pulley 3634 is such that it rotates at a faster rate than mernb i535 and 1&6, and as a result at all times tends to maintain the action of the line 3 2% taut and take up the slack between the driving pulley 394 and members 165 and res. Leaders 322 (FIGURES l5 and 16) pass over members 166 in a downwardly depending position as the line is drawn aboardship. This also occurs in the event a should remain afiixed to a leader as the line is drawn aboard.

A tubular member 330 extends downwardly from end piece 141 and slidably and rotatably fits within a tubular socket 332 that is rigidly attached by conventional means to the deck or supporting portion of the boat. In this manner the device R can be rotated to place the pulleys 3G2 and 304 in alignment with the direction in which the long line 320 is drawn. The arm 300' and pulley 302 are slightly angularly disposed relative to arm 300, and as a result cause the incoming line 320 to be engaged by the contacting portions 168 and 168' of members 166 and 166. Pulley 302 is formed with an abnormally deep tapered groove to prevent inadvertent displacement of line 320 therefrom.

Although my invention is fully capable of achieving the results and providing the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is to be understood that I do not mean to be limited to the details above described other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

I. A method of utilizing power means in sequentially hauling consecutive sections of a net that includes a cork line and a bottom line from a first position to a second elevated position from which said sections move downwardly in sequence to be disposed in a desired configuration on a horizontal surface, comprising: disposing at said elevated position two rigid independently rotatable surfaces that extend away from one another on separate axes to define a V-shaped space therebetween wherein sections of said net can be sequentially disposed and frictionally engaged by said surfaces to the extent that said net as a whole can be moved when one of said surfaces rotates in a clockwise direction and the other of said surfaces moves in a counterclockwise direction; placing a section of said net in said space in contact with said surfaces; rotating one of said surfaces in a clockwise direction and the other of said surfaces in a counterclockwise direction at equal rates to cause each of said sections to remain centered relative to said surfaces as said net sections pass through said c -shaped space; and guidsaid net from said second elevated position onto said horizontal surface in said desired configuration as said rotatable surfaces rotate.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said rotatable surfaces varies longitudinally in transverse cross section to define a vertically extending space there etween through which said cork line can move without beinr subjected to crushing forces.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the angulation between said rotatable surfaces is such that said net sections tend to wedge between the lower portions of said surfaces defining said V-sha-ped space.

4. A method of utilizing power means in hauling a net that embodies cork lines and a bottom line from a first expanded position to a plurality of second elevated positions and thereafter placed in a plurality of stacks on a horizontal surface, comprising: providing a plurality of laterally separated pairs of adjacent rotatable surfaces that are adapted to frictionally grip sections of said net therebetween to the extent that said net as a whole can be moved when one of said surfaces in each of said pairs is rotated in a clockwise direction and the other of said surfaces is moved in a counterclockwise direction; placing two parallel free end portions of said bottom line between a first pair of said surfaces to be gripped thereby; placing a first end portion of said cork line between a second pair of said surfaces and a second end portion of said cork line between a third pair of said surfaces to be frictionally gripped thereby; maintaining said pairs of surfaces at sufiiciently high second elevated positions to permit portions of said net that have reached said second elevated positions and are moving downwardly to be guided to form said stacks; rotating each of said pairs of surfaces at such rate relative to the rate of rotation of the other of said pairs of surfaces that said net is hauled toward said surfaces in a desired configuration; and guiding said net from said second positions onto said horizontal surface into said stacks.

5. A method as defined in claim 4 wherein said first pair of surfaces are rotated at such a rate as to maintain said bottom line in a narrow U-shaped configuration that 1 3 substantially closes the bottom of said net to prevent escape of fish therefrom.

6. A method as defined in claim 5 wherein said first pair of surfaces rotate about two laterally separated substantially vertical axes.

7. A method as defined in claim 6 wherein each of said second and third pairs of surfaces are so disposed that each surface in said pairs rotates about laterally separated upwardly and outwardly extending axes, with said surfaces in each of said pairs defining a V-shaped space therebetween of sufficient width that said corks on said cork line can pass therethrough without damage thereto.

8. A method as defined in claim 7 wherein means are afi'ixed to the outer extremity of said bottom line that tends to oppose movement of said line toward said surfaces and cause said line to assume a configuration in which the major portion thereof is disposed in two parallel adjacent section that close the bottom of said net.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 437,208 Kinney Sept. 30, 1890 1,214,125 Bergman Jan. 30, 1917 1,413,552 Yancy Apr. 18, 1922 2,570,285 Sundberg Oct. 9, 1951 2,670,926 Sewell Mar. 2, 1954 2,673,415 Storm Mar. 30, 1954 2,714,797 Drummond et al Aug. 9, 1955 2,762,606 Morse Sept. 11, 1956 2,789,382 Frungel Apr. 23, 1957 

